LGBTQ chorus belts out message of love and equality
By Holly Adams
November 21, 2019
The spotlight glowed on a group of teenagers wearing all black — black slacks, black button-down shirts, black shoes. The only color came from their matching vibrant, rainbow neckties, perfectly coordinated with the colors of the LGBTQ pride flag. Family, friends and community members locked their ...
On the outside looking in
By Reuben Stoll
November 21, 2019
March 1, I sat in my government class anxiously waiting for the end of the day. When the clock struck 2:30 p.m., I was bouncing with excitement like every other Whitman lacrosse player. It was the first day of the season. I walked to the locker room, then to the field, visualizing the games to come, ...
Pulling back the curtain
By Eva Levy
November 19, 2019
This year’s musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, is a drama that takes place in Paris in 1482. The story begins when the protagonist, Quasimodo — whose uncle hides him away from society because of his physical appearance — leaves the sanctuary of Notre Dame’s bell towers and spend a day in ...
In a pickle? The Bethesda Central Farmers Market has the produce you need
By Emily London
November 17, 2019
Every Sunday morning, junior Julia Walsh leaves her house and drives to Bethesda Elementary School, armed with a reusable tote bag and enough cash to buy all the fresh produce and baked goods she could dream of at the Bethesda Central Farm Market. A morning mix of productivity and relaxation is exactly what ...
“Soft-spoken and caring”: Michelle Quackenbush retires after 30 years of teaching
November 16, 2019
Russian teacher Michelle Quackenbush may be soft-spoken in the classroom, but that doesn’t mean her passions are muted. To her students, she’s a beacon of the saying, “Do What You Love.” She’s inspired students across two continents to find their own passions, no matter how unconventional...
Arts students pursue real-life experience in New York City, Los Angeles, during gap years
By Bella Brody
November 12, 2019
Ben Wolstein (‘19) loves playing the trumpet — so much so that he’s decided to play every night at different “jam sessions” in one of the greatest music hubs in the world: New York City. Wolstein, who played trumpet in Whitman’s Wind Ensemble during high school, is taking a gap year before he atte...
From cosmetology to construction, vocational high schools teach career-readiness
By Gabe Schaner
November 6, 2019
Walter Johnson junior Eliot Eisen’s feet dangled out of a window, 45 feet in the air. Surrounding him was the frame of a house — a house he, along with the construction cluster at Thomas Edison High School, was building. Though unusual for most schools, building during class is a typical scene for st...
Livia Mckee draws on personal experience to release eight original songs
By Sarah Tong
November 5, 2019
When junior Livia McKee was only five years old, she would put on full concert-style productions and sing in front of her entire family just for fun. She would throw on crazy Halloween costumes, grab her mic and belt out her favorite Taylor Swift songs. “I really like writing music and I like pe...
In U.S., art opportunities draw a senior’s passion
October 30, 2019
When senior Anna Bedratenko lived in Ukraine, she didn’t have much time for creativity. She had always liked drawing and painting, but the Ukrainian art curriculum in her school taught art as a skill rather than an outlet for imagination, she said. So, when she moved to the United States her freshm...
Emerging Light: student artwork featured in Glen Echo exhibit
October 28, 2019
Ela Shroff was nervous. It was her first day of the Yellow Barn teenage drawing and painting class at Glen Echo, and after searching long and hard for an art class specifically for teens, Shroff was anxious to meet her classmates and teacher. She had expected it to be like any typical art class: students s...
Senior wins End Family Fire contest with striking video
By Meera Shroff
October 20, 2019
On a Monday in late July, senior Amelia Montagnino headed to her summer internship at the Brady Campaign — a nonprofit organization aimed at preventing gun violence. As usual, she attended the all-staff meeting, listening as the top staff of Brady shared news and plans for the upcoming week. The...
REACHing toward modern art
By Lexi Fleck
October 15, 2019
Vibrant, electric purple hands the size of houses flop to the beat of blasting music, stopping outdoor festival-goers in their tracks. Performers sing lively African music inside, grabbing the attention of many community members. After witnessing the scene, a festival-goer added “cool” to ...
November 22, 2019
During fifth and sixth periods, the library transforms from a bustling hub to a quiet,...
By Jack McGuire and Gabe Schaner
November 21, 2019
At around 8:10 p.m., before the end of the first act of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Whitman’s...
By Holly Adams
November 21, 2019
The spotlight glowed on a group of teenagers wearing all black — black slacks, black...
By Reuben Stoll
November 21, 2019
March 1, I sat in my government class anxiously waiting for the end of the day. When the...
By Heather Wang
November 21, 2019
At SMOB Nate Tinbite’s first town hall Nov.6 at Seneca Valley High School, students...
Clubs Night should take place during lunch
November 21, 2019